Ukraine: Hundreds of children in Krasnyi Lyman receive emergency aid

07-07-2014 News Release 14/117

Kiev / Geneva (ICRC) – Despite the ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staff have reached the city of Krasnyi Lyman in Donetsk region, where more than 5,000 displaced civilians who arrived last week are in need of assistance.

"Babies and young children under three need special food and diapers," said Guive Rafatian, head of the ICRC office in Kharkiv. "Today we've managed to distribute specifically designed hygiene parcels and children’s food to hundreds of families with very young children in Krasnyi Lyman. Meanwhile, we are continuing our assessment of people’s needs, particularly in the hospitals in the region."

The ICRC is supporting the delivery of health care for more than 1,000 people injured in fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some 30 hospitals have received wound-dressing supplies and medicines for emergency treatment.

The organization is stepping up its dialogue with all parties who may be able to exert some influence over the situation and facilitate its humanitarian relief work for civilians, regardless of whether they have been displaced, wounded, arrested or otherwise detained.

The ICRC has had a constant presence in Ukraine since late 2013. It currently has some 50 staff based in Kiev, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Odessa and elsewhere in the region.